The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-01-06
A CRY in THE NIGHT.

It was early evening in Venice. Th
limpid waters flashed and glistened in tn
yellow moonlight, and their gurglinl
mingled dreamily with the song and mu
sic which seemed to be everywhere.
June was just begun, and the balm.
air and the soft weather had filled all tb
lagoons with gondolas.
From my balcony I watched the fit
ting craft and gay freight go back ant
forth and hither and thither across tn
limits of my vision.
At last, full of the fun, joy and glor!
which the jewellers made, I called m!
gondolier and bade him take me ou
upon the water.
It mattered but little which way VI
went, so our bark drifted, except when i
was necessary to dip an oar to avoid 8
collision.
All Venice seemed alive with the mer
ry, halfmad, riotous apirit of the sport
and at last the water became fairly thick
with barges and goudolas.
In and out among them we went, slow
ly, and from every side we were hailed
with jests, laughter, bits of music and
snatches of song.
The mirth and good will with which
we were surrounded soon took the gloom
and care out of my own sad heart, and
laughed, chatted and sang with them sill,
and was as gay as the gayest.
An hour later, as we were passing un'
der low balcony an unseen woman
suddenly began singing one, of the sweet
songs of France, my own dear country
The song came from throat as flexible
as a birds and as full of music. We
paused beneath the balcony until the
song was done; then I threw the singer
handful of white lilies and we drifted
slowly away.
Five minutes later all the mirth and
music on~the lagoon stopped instantly,
and in its stead was great and awful
silence. It was caused by wild cry-a
scream 80 terrible that it seemed to cur
die the blood in every heart-which came
from the balcony where had just thrown
the lilies. One only utters such a cry
when in mortal terror; and in this case
it seemed inspired by both. There were
blanched faces and staring eyes every
where. All were listening for a repeti-
ton of the dreadful sound.
Ours was the only gondola which
moved. All the others seemed enchained
or spellbound by that awful cry. My
gondolier, as if by instinct, anticipated
my wish, and sent our graceful craft fly
ing through the water until We were once
more under the balcony whence the song
and the cry came. Clutching the low
railing ewiftly drew myself up, but
there was no one in sight. Through q
window before pe heard stjfed cry
of pain, and instantly rushed in the di-
rection it came from.
The lights were dim, but in ao iuner
room Iaaw the outline Of q woman's form
and heard the rustic of silken garments.
A black shadow seemed standing between
US, and then, all at once, the woman gave
the awful cry again, sprang forward and
threw herself into my arms. Her heart
was beating wildly, and there was agony
and terror in her every movement.
"Do not move," she said; "do not stir.
I am in danger, but I shall be safe if you
hold me fast for moment"
Iclasped her closely to my breast, and
she flung her arms tightly about my
neck. Then I again saw the shadow.
1t had mans shape, but as it came for.
ward the fearful color of its face and the
still more hideous glow in its eyes made
it seem like some fiend or vampire.
1t came very close to me and breathed
its hot, scorching breath into my face.
From impulse I raised my hand and
struck at it, but it darted backward and
laughed at me in way which I shall
never forget.
"Do not" said the woman; "do not
move at all. He will 80 presently and
leave US alone"
/ was wonderfully puzzled by the
STANCE scene. It seemed to me too much
like the Middle Age diablerie and non.
sense to be real. But there was no mis-
take about it; the woman was stillin my
arms painting with fright, and yonder, in
the middle of the floor, stood the fend,
or whatever it was, griunipg and Kissing
at me.
Just behind me could hear the other
jewellers who had been with me on the
lagoons. Recovered from their surprise
at the alarming cry, they had also come
to investigate, and they we're climbing
over the balcony and into the room where
I was standing with the woman and the
goblin. My eyes we're firmly fixed upon
the latter when the others began Chamber.
ing over the balcony. Suddenly, and
without sound the sinister presence
vanished. How, I could never tell. 1t
is barely possible that he darted through
some unseen door and out along some
mysterious hallway, or be might have
melted into thin air.
That point I have never been able to
decide.
only know that I was looking straight
at the eerie shape, when suddenly the
space which it had filled became empty.
Then the woman released herself from
my embrace, and, slipping her hand
through my arm, she stepped forward
with me to greet these who were still
coming through the open windows from
over the balcony.
"I thank you all for coming" she said,
ssthough the danger is past now. / was